Here & Now Anytime

Midterm elections are just days away, and Democrats in Arizona are trying to flip at least two congressional seats there. Here & Now’s Peter O’Dowd checks in from a key battleground in the Democrats’ fight to regain Congress.

Then, President Trump and other Republicans are facing backlash over comments they made about Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Bishara Bahbah, founder of Arab-Americans for Trump, which changed it's name to Arab-Americans for Peace last year, shares why he’s feeling disenfranchised.

And, Dolores Huerta, a celebrated labor leader and civil rights activist, died on Wednesday at age 96. Luis Valdez, longtime friend and collaborator of Huerta’s, remembers her.

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Tuesday's midterm elections are the most expensive in U.S. history, according to the firm AdImpact. Much of the money is coming from megadonors and industries connected to artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and lobbying groups promoting Israel. We speak with Brendan Glavin from Open Secrets, an independent nonprofit that tracks money in American politics. 

Then, Dr. Jennifer Shuford is resigning as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's deputy director and chief medical officer just four months after President Trump appointed her to help steady the agency. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the CDC's former top immunization official, tells us more. 

And, we talk with costume experts McKenna Kelly and Perse Brunell-Lestrange of The Costumer in upstate New York about their work creating and selling costumes, what they wear for Halloween, and what you can do to create your best costume this year.

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With midterms looming, President Trump campaigned in Iowa for a number of Republican candidates for tight House, Senate and governor seats. Iowa has been reliably red, but some longtime Republican and Independent voters say they’re turning toward Democrats over dissatisfaction with Trump and the state of the economy.

And, in a speech during one of Trump’s campaign stops he touted a $15 billion steel mill designed to bolster Iowa’s economy. Still, with Iowa’s job growth lagging behind the national average, many voters are anxious about the future of the job market. Here & Now’s Chris Bentley reports from Iowa.

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With the midterms approaching, Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd visits Southern Arizona to speak with ranchers who live along the border. We hear from rancher John Ladd about why he supports the construction of a new double wall along his property. We also hear why rancher Ross Humphries is against the construction of a new double wall along his property.

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Axios' Margaret Talev and Kansas Public Radio's Jim McLean discuss the dividing lines in Kansas where President Trump campaigned this week. They also unpack the fallout from a political advertisement in the Ohio gubernatorial race that's being called one of the ugliest of the midterm election cycle. 

And, Keri Russell stars as Kate Wyler, U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, in "The Diplomat." The latest season features a rogue president, a spiraling international crisis and heady interpersonal drama. Despite glowing reviews, NPR critic-at-large Eric Deggans says the show is still underrated. He tells us why. 

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In recent days, President Trump exempted Russia from new sanctions and agreed to buy Russian diesel. This newfound favorable attitude toward Russia has heightened concerns about the impact on Ukraine.

Oleksandra Matviichuk, the leader of a Ukrainian organization that won the Nobel Peace Prize for documenting alleged Russian war crime, explains how these actions will hit her country as the war heads into its seventh winter.

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Utah is suing Kalshi, the prediction market company, accusing the platform of gambling, which is illegal in the state. Utah's Attorney General Derek Brown tells us about the lawsuit. 

Then, New York Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained by Israeli defense forces Wednesday morning while picking olives in a pro-Palestinian protest in the West Bank. Lander joins us.

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An ‘October surprise’ is a scandal or newsmaking event that can influence voters just weeks before Election Day. Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer looks back at historic October surprises since the term was coined in the 1980s and before.

Then, the number of people receiving federal food assistance has hit its lowest point in nearly 20 years. Food policy journalist Helena Bottemiller Evich explains how need for assistance is still there, but policy changes have made it harder to access.

And, do you know the origins of phrases like “seize the day” and “let them eat cake”? Author Eli Burnstein shares more from his book, “Phrased & Confused.”

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The economy is a leading issue for voters this November, but other top issues vary compared to previous midterm elections, according to Pew Research Center. Pew's director of research Jocelyn Kiley tells us more. 

Then, AI is everywhere in the news, but the jargon can be hard to follow. Boston Globe columnist Larry Edelman joins us to define some of the most common AI terms and explain their significance.

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"The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," Kiran Desai's 2025 novel, is a sprawling, multi-generational family saga that plays out across four continents in the late 1990s. Desai talks about her epic second novel and the power of solitude. 

Then, "The Muppets Show" is turning 50. We speak with Bonnie Erickson, the creator of the Miss Piggy puppet, and Dave Goelz, the only human who has played Gonzo.


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